Cambridge Health Alliance’s board of trustees voted July 16 to convert the hospital’s ER into an urgent care clinic. Hospital officials said it was not a decision based on finances but seeking to better address the healthcare needs of the community.
“Community meetings were held in late June and early July 2019 to share details about the strategy and garner feedback from patients and stakeholders,” hospital officials wrote in their Healthy Somerville 2022 plan. “The conversion is part of a larger strategy that maintains a strong safety net for vulnerable populations, responds to demographic and industry changes, increases access to core services including primary care and behavioral health and supports ongoing efforts to deliver integrated care.”
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